WALLS, W B - Putnam

The sad intelligence reached this city Tuesday morning that WB Walls had made a double attempt to take his own life the day before at the home of his father-in-law, Wilson Yeates, near Bainbridge. Mr. Walls, in company with Mr. Yeates and a neighbor, was engaged in conversation in the front yard, when he suddenly drew a knife from his pocket and cut a gash across his throat reaching almost from ear to ear.  His two companions grasped him and wrenched the knife from his hand, when with the strength of a crazed man he broke away from them and dashed his head against an apple tree standing near by as if bent on ending his sad career. The knife was produced so quickly and without the least warning that Mr. Yeates hardly realized what had taken place until Mr. Walls was lying prostrate on the ground at the apple tree. A physician was immediately summoned and upon examination it was found that the knife had just missed the jugular vein and there was a chance for the victim to recover from both the wounds made. A second report was received Tuesday afternoon that Mr. Walls was dead, but late advice states he will recover. Mr. Walls has been unfortunate in business matters of late years, besides being a sufferer from rheumatism and it is supposed these causes contributed largely to provoke the attempt at suicide.  He has at various times engaged in business in this city but only continued a short time. Mrs. Walls is also in poor health and all things considered it is supposed his mind became unbalanced. There may have been other influences that made the current of Mr. Wall’s life dark and gloomy; but be, that as it may, it is a pity such a well endowed business man should come to such an end.   --- kbz